Cellist William Skidmore will present his “Second, Well Maybe Semi-Annual, Recital in Honor of Pending Retirement,” on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 8:15 p.m. in the Bloch Learning and Performance Hall (Room 200A) of West Virginia University’s Creative Arts Center.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Featured on the program will be Beethoven’s “Sonata IV in C Major, for Piano and Cello, Op. 102, No. 1”; George Rochberg’s “Ricordanza” (In Memory) for Cello and Piano; and George Crumb’s “Vox Balaenae” (Voice of the Whale) for Three Masked Players. Assisting on the program will be Carol Beall, pianist, and Dorothy Skidmore, flutist.

“Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major is considered a mature example of his late period works,” Skidmore said. “It is very terse, written in a very direct and concise manner. Rochberg’s ‘Ricordanza’ is a very deep, passionate piece that contains several quotes from the Beethoven C Major Sonata in its middle section, and the thread of connections continues in that Rochberg and Crumb both taught at the University of Pennsylvania together for many years.

“Crumb, a native of South Charleston, W.Va., is one of the world’s leading composers of the mid to late 20th century, and his works are very non-traditional, yet readily accessible to all audiences. The ‘Vox Balaenae’ was inspired by a recording of whales ‘singing’ in the ocean that was published by the National Geographic Society, and it is considered to be one of his great works.”

Professor Skidmore is beginning his 35th year of teaching and performing at WVU after 10 years in a similar position at the University of Maryland and four seasons as a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber music player and recitalist for many years, he was a member of the Maryland Trio, the Baltimore Symphony String Quartet, the American Arts Trio (at WVU for nine years), and numerous other ensembles. After coming to WVU, Skidmore made a series of half-hour programs for West Virginia Public Television’s “Musical Masterpieces,” which are in process of being converted to DVD format and made available through the WVU Library System.

With his wife, Dorothy, and pianist Carol Beall, Skidmore has appeared in numerous concerts as the Monongalia Trio, and their performances of the “Vox Balaenae” have met with considerable success throughout the local area.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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